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Monday, March 28, 2016

light, life, color

My heart has felt so full recently. I think it's the spring weather that is warming my soul. Spring always does that to me. I always feel like a bird set free from a cage. I just love the feeling that I get down into the depths of my marrow when the days get longer, the light hangs around longer each day, and the blooms and buds appear.

We had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday service yesterday. I could just feel the soul-shaking excitement as we remembered and reflected on the resurrection of our Savior Jesus. I want to feel like that every day. I don't want that excitement to be confined to just that one day, I want it to linger and linger throughout each day of the year.

We had a fellowship breakfast before the morning service. I always enjoy spending time with my fellow brothers and sisters and Christ. There was a lot of wonderful, yummy food and hot coffee and lots of good conversation.

This Easter was also a bit bittersweet for us as well. Our pastor and his family are being called to South Carolina to serve as a marriage pastor in a church there. We've known now for two weeks, and I have shed many, many tears and have had some sleepless nights. Geoff is more than just our pastor. He and his wife are also our very close friends, so Brad and I feeling like we're losing not only our pastor but also our very dear friends. Geoff's wife, Liz, is my best friend so this will be a big adjustment for me. And they live just down the road from us, so it will be very different when they move 10.5 hours from here and their house is empty. And, of course, I realize that we're not losing friends, but the dynamics will be different with them living so far away.

I guess this just means that we'll be making more frequent trips down South. :)

I have been spending so much time spinning. It's hard not to neglect the house cleaning and such that needs done. It's a fine balance for sure. And I think that the only reason I don't sit at the wheel all day is because I homeschool the kids and have a family to feed and care for. If it wasn't for that, I'm afraid I would be permanently attached to my wheel.

Yesterday after church, I set the twist on four skeins that I had recently spun. It was such a warm, sunny day that Brad fashioned some hangers on our birch tree that I could hang the skeins off of, and they hung out all day, drying in the sunny breeze. They looked so pretty hanging there with the green and blue of nature.

I am really enjoying spinning. Right now, I'm working on a merino top that I had purchased already dyed in multiple colors. I'm really loving how pretty it is looking as I ply it. I'm also planning on digging into the two pounds of undyed white merino roving that I have. I have plans to dye most of that using natural dyes. Right now, we don't have anything really growing in the woods that I could use, but I know that there will be plenty of things in the coming months. I'm also going to plant some things that I can use for dyeing. I'm really excited about learning more about dyeing. I bought a book last year about natural dyeing, so I'm going to carve out some time to read through that again before I plant anything.

The kids have been working on building a cabin in the woods behind our house. They started it last fall, worked on it a bit over the winter, and are attacking it again now that the weather has been enjoyable. We all went out into the woods yesterday afternoon. Brad cut down some old, smaller trees so that they would have more wood to build up the walls. I sat right nearby and knitted on my sweater while taking in their cheerful laughter and the warm spring air. Oh gosh, it was so heavenly.

Sergei also stopped by. I know that there may have been some questions regarding Sergei and his presence in our family. Adoption is a challenging, hard path to take. But it's also full of fruit and reward as God works His way in the hard things. I have chosen not to document about the tough things in our adoption journey because they feel too private and tender. That's just been my personal conviction. There are some things that are just too dear to the heart to air out in a public space. Some things are just too sensitive.

But I can say that we have seen God's mighty hand on Sergei's life. We have seen family and friends and even people that we do not know (but so very much appreciate) step up and help Sergei. It's been wonderful to see how God is so much bigger than we could have even imagined.

And God is restoring some tender things in our relationship with Sergei. And we have been spending more time together growing this relationship again with our son. And my heart has been so full and so incredibly thankful for this. So, so full.

Well, ladies, I do pray that you have a very full, blessed week. We have some appointments this week, and I would really love to tackle some spring cleaning as well. We shall see what the week brings us!

look at you! so springy and happy in the photos :) I loved this past weekend and the weather. I'm sorry your best friends are moving, life is so challenging at times isn't it? I love the photo of the kids at the end.

I could never get tried of your photo's..Where you speaking or singing in your church? I believe that was you. Adoption is wonderful...and I agree with you on guard it and keeping it in your heart. I love your post..so heart felt. Have a wonderful week my friend.

I really enjoy your posts and pictures!! Sorry to hear your friend is moving! The kids cabin is awesome! Loving the colors of your yarn! I have been thinking about planting things to use to dye yarn as well. Thanks so much for sharing!

So much wonderfulness packed into your post, so much to treasure despite the hard things. So sorry your pastor/friends are moving. :( Interesting how the Lord works these things out, isn't it? I don't like to share my most personal moments on my blog...some things just don't need to be public knowledge, now do they? Nice to catch up with you, Amber! Love your freshly dyed yarns!xo Lisa

I agree some things aren't meant to be shared with the world. I am rejoicing that your relationship with S is growing! Changes within your church are hard. Our new pastor has been at our church for almost a year. Things are starting to settle down and I am grateful. The colors on the yarn are very vibrant. Nice! It looks like you have been enjoying some wonderful spring weather. Enoy!

Such beautiful writing and beautiful pictures! I love the shots of your yarn hanging out to dry, and the kids' cabin is just adorable. It's always so inspiring to me to read about all your projects and plans!

Amber, this post is close to my heart as we have adopted Little Buddy into our home of almost all adults. He is the shining light in all of our lives, it was not an easy decision, but one that was made by a much higher source. Well done on he spinning, and I my heart breaks for you a bit as your friends move away.Hugs,Meredith

Well, hello there!

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Amber. My husband and I live in the rolling hills of the northeast with our children and just a few animals. We're doing our best to live a simpler, more self-sufficient life. You'll read about a variety of things here in this space - homesteading, homeschooling, knitting and crocheting, keeping house, and walking with Jesus. Thanks for stopping by. I pray that you are blessed!

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